Ford has always had some of the fastest commercial trucks on the planet, but is it good enough to venture into one of the nation’s fiercest governmental transportation competitions? Today’s announcement by the American automakers says yes: Ford Motor Company has been awarded a contract by the United States Department of War to deliver three prototype tactical trucks to the United States Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle Heavy (ISV-Heavy) program. But instead of designing a vehicle from the ground-up for its own unique military duties, the car maker is instead opting to stretch its already successful underpinnings of the F-Series Super Duty truck. That decision effectively enters Ford into competition alongside military contractor BC Customs LLC in Utah, as well as GM-which is also proposing its own tactical military vehicles – to snag a long-term production order.
It’s about far more than a mere update. Roughly 600 heavy tactical trucks that can carry infantry squads, act as carriers of mission equipment and generate and supply power in the field are wanted by Army logisticians. Before submitting fully functional models, each competing company must produce three prototypes to army testers for evaluation by march 30. Because they rely on commercially manufactured vehicles to reduce cost and delivery time, the department views the deal as a better approach for modernization.
“This vehicle’s success in the program will demand far more than its off-road ability,” said John Comly, Ford’s military program manager, at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2013 Commercial Vehicle Congress. ” The next-generation tactical truck has to provide the ideal blend of mobility, strength and endurance, as well as high power production output capabilities, that it can support scalable manufacturing solutions for worldwide requirements and today’s increasingly communications driven military.” Given the growing reliance of the battlefield on the movement and powering of communications infrastructure, remote surveillance, robotic command and control systems, and even mobile hospitals, vehicle base power generation is of equal concern.
1. Ford Enters the Race for the Army’s ISV-Heavy Program
Now, the Dearborn, Michigan automaker is set to throw its hat into the ring for a new Army bid involving the Infantry Squad Vehicle Heavy (ISV-Heavy), aiming to add another offering in the company’s military vehicle catalo. The move for Ford would be leveraging its well-known F-Series Super Duty platform, rather than creating an entirely new, specialized tactical truck. Ford will be tasked with delivering three such prototypes to undergo tests, going head-to-head against submissions from General Motors Co., BC Customs LLC. This strategy takes after a military trend to turn to rugged, commercial vehicles.
Competition Highlights:
- Three military prototype trucks
- Proven Super Duty platform
- Army evaluation process
- Competing against major manufacturers
- Commercial technology adaptation
Securing the contract for the ISV-Heavy could be huge for Ford in stepping up in the area of military transit. Big, high value Government contracts have potential production contracts for years to come and prove Ford’s engineers could hack it under very rigorous usage. Ford contends its skills driving commercial trucks for a living would be put to good use in modified defence duty with some fine tuning.
2. Military Requirements Go Beyond Traditional Transportation
Requirements for the Army’s ISV-Heavy. Far more than mere troop, cargo haulers, ISVs, the name for the new heavy generation of the military’s tactical trucks will need to have superb off-road ability with full infantries and cargo, a long operational range and the ability to get through and stay out on the mission with few refuelling stops, especially while battling bad ground conditions and making their way off road.
Mission Capability Requirements:
- High off-road mobility
- Extended operational driving range
- Mobile electrical power
- Drone charging capability
- Battlefield communication support
In addition to moving personnel and supplies, the vehicles would have to double as mobile powerhouses, providing the juice necessary for high-tech communications equipment, command centres, and electronic mission systems on the battlefield, where the U.S. Military is ever more reliant on digital communications and networked fighting forces.
3. Ford Relies on the Proven Strength of the Super Duty Platform
Instead of reinventing the wheel for an ISV, the automaker has chosen to adapt the militarized F-Series Super Duty line of trucks which have a history of heavy-duty capability. Ford says this move leverages 70 years of F-Series Super Duty evolution and can lower risk, reduce development time, decrease costs, and speed up time to market. The F-Series Super Duty vehicles are already known to excel at towing capability and a tough reputation in other heavy applications.
Super Duty Platform Advantages:
- Reinforced heavy-duty frame
- Advanced electrical systems
- High-volume production capability
- Proven durability performance
- Global service support
Ford sees the Super Duty’s architecture as robust enough, suspension-capable and tough-drive-equipped to handle moving the soldiers and equipment needed over any kind of terrain. Since the platform is already produced at Ford’s high-production facility, production could scale “significantly faster” than trying to build a unique military vehicle from the ground up, according to Ford.
4. Competition Intensifies as General Motors and BC Customs Join the Bid
The fight over the ISV-Heavy contract has certainly yielded an interesting and fiercely contested field from three manufacturers representing very different visions for developing the military’s next ground vehicle. GM has the inherent military and manufacturing clout through the GM Defence program, whereas BC Customs provides extreme off-road capability with its engineering skills and a one-off military prototype design based on a unique off-road foundation. It’s this comparison of commercial manufacturing, a proven defence history and a specialized off-road vehicle concept to what the Army needs over its next deployment cycle that really puts some fun in this comparison.
Competition Highlights:
- Three manufacturers compete for contract
- GM brings defence experience
- BC Customs offers off-road expertise
- Army compares multiple vehicle approaches
- Focus on long-term operational value
Previous success building the Infantry Squad Vehicle lends General Motors significant credibility with the U.S. Army as a capable military producer and supplier. The automaker’s Silverado 3500 HD-based prototype builds upon already proven commercial design for harsh military duty, offering GM a strong knowledge base to rely upon as the service assesses all contenders’ viability for meeting harsh service criteria.
5. Commercial Manufacturing Gives Ford a Strategic Advantage
The new commercial manufacturing system benefits Ford in the ISV-Heavy competition by expediting production time and complexity. Rather than build an all-new vehicle, the Army’s selected automaker is taking advantage of and reusing its current High Duty platform already in high-volume commercial production. The firm can spend its Engineering and Operations resources incorporating militarized systems and improvements, secure that other components have met extensive real-world commercial reliability benchmarks over many years, Army Contracting Command officials previously wrote. The methodology supports a recent goal by the Army acquisition command to shorten the time between an interested requirement and delivery of the next vehicles.
Ford’s Manufacturing Strengths:
- Proven Super Duty production platform
- Reduced development and production risk
- Commercial components ensure reliability
- Rapid large-scale manufacturing capability
- Extensive Ford Pro support network
A “plug-and-play” approach allows these Ford components to readily meet Army’s demanding needs. After all, the F-250/350 already use hardened frames; high-performance electrical systems, “military-spec,” even; long-life suspension elements, and robust V8s with more than enough power; and all are a “known,” as in commercially proven, in punishing applications with very low engineering risk. Ford has assembly lines already set up that could ramp up production quickly.
6. Modern Military Vehicles Depend on Reliable Service and Technical Support
Designing the next highly competent military vehicle is just one key component for success over the vehicle’s life cycle; reliable sustainment and technical support are another equally vital component. The private sector currently has large service structures that can deliver spare parts, expertise, and repair capabilities to a wide number of areas that are well suited to meet the military sustainment challenge and keep the vehicles combat capable. This in an infrastructure that has been gaining increased utility.
Service Support Advantages:
- Nationwide maintenance service network
- Certified technicians and repair expertise
- Efficient replacement parts distribution
- Reduced vehicle operational downtime
- Strong long-term fleet support
The national reach of Ford dealerships helps the government realize the benefits of commercial infrastructure with highly qualified service technicians, up-to-date diagnostic capabilities, and productive shop operations. Current facilities can minimize down time, keep the fleet mobile and prevent the requirement of building an entirely new military maintenance process.
7. Defence Partnerships Reflect a Broader Industry Transformation
As is becoming increasingly evident throughout the automotive and defence industries, Ford’s pursuit of participation in ISV-Heavy signifies the next wave of adaptation in governmental sourcing practices. Defence is moving from costly and time-consuming to new military systems and is now asking commercial vehicle manufacturers to develop military ready transportation systems from an established platform. This arrangement allows defence to reduce development costs by leveraging off a commercial, proven design as well as the production expertise and supply network native to it.
Industry Transformation Trends:
- Commercial vehicles support defence programs
- Faster military modernization strategies
- Proven technology reduces development costs
- Strong domestic manufacturing partnerships
- Advanced automotive innovation expands
The agency also remains interested in prompting private manufacturers to become part of the defence industrial base. Doing this, they explain, would take advantage of the many commercial components with established track records and high, ready to ramp-up production lines already present in the U.S. When a business already has established methods to build something, the government should in some cases be able to more quickly add new capabilities to the existing equipment.
8. Ford Continues Expanding Its Role in Defence and Advanced Technology
Ford’s contribution to the ISV-Heavy test can be seen as part of its larger drive toward developing defence relationships and enabling new-generation transportation technologies. That includes collaboration with federal government agencies and modification of rugged, commercially designed vehicles for the armed forces. With solid manufacturing systems, engineering tools, and software development know-how that should make it a worthy competitor for future defence procurements. While developing products in the defence arena, Ford will also still look toward building new products for commercial use.
Defence and Technology Expansion:
- Government partnerships continue growing
- Commercial vehicles support defence missions
- Proven manufacturing strengthens capabilities
- Advanced software integration expands
- Future technologies drive innovation
Ford is reinforcing its ties with defence entities by providing commercial vehicles to serve logistical and operational support needs on a global basis. These operations empower government authorities by enabling reliable operations without time lost during the typical product development cycle. By using commercially available production platforms and commercial engineering principles, customers are readily supplied a ready to-deploy solution to support specific military mission needs.
9. Strong Commercial Performance Supports Ford’s Military Ambitions
Ford’s leadership in commercial van and truck production should translate into an expanding military mission for the automaker. These manufacturing efficiencies, combined with engineering chops and fiscal heft, position Ford as a compelling competitor for large government contracts, said Bill. Military departments of defence do have preferences for established manufacturers that provide long-term reliable vehicles, production, support, maintenance, and logistical attributes that lend credibility to Ford’s military bid.
Commercial Strengths Behind Defence:
- Large-scale truck manufacturing expertise
- Strong engineering and production capacity
- Reliable long-term fleet support
- Continuous quality improvement efforts
- Stable commercial business foundation
Through continuous quality evaluation and follow up at customer’s hands as well as technical assistance during lifetime cycle Ford always tries to control worldwide commercial operations by their ongoing service campaigns and existing service networks to inspire the commercial world confidence. With all the supports of reliable operation for long term these advantages for government agencies that require permanent.
10. The Army’s Decision Could Shape the Future of Military Transportation
Testing against Army Requirements This rigorous ISV-Heavy test regime will evaluate who amongst Ford, GM and BC Customs, can meet the harsh demands of the future fighting vehicle platform. The Army will analyse everything from mobility and toughness to onboard power production capability and life support to find their ideal system, impacting battlefield transportation for years to come. We are extremely confident in our solution and excited to demonstrate the potential for commercial vehicle-grade technology on the battlefield.
Future Military Vehicle Priorities:
- Comprehensive prototype testing
- Advanced battlefield mobility requirements
- Reliable onboard power generation
- Long-term operational fleet support
- Commercial technology drives modernization
The winners’ vehicle will be capable of doing far more than simply hauling soldiers by powering comms systems, drones and forward operating basing via a dedicated generator. Modern fighting will, and in some instances is already reliant upon vehicles with multiple integrated tech roles in there, ” Troop Support role.”.
